Ski



July 14,- 1970 c. JOSEPH 3,520,546

SKI

Filed March 11, 1968 FIG.1

United States Patent 3,520,546 SKI Claude Joseph, 74 Sallanches, France Filed Mar. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 712,289 Claims priority, application France, Mar. 16, 1967,

,079 Int. Cl. A63c 5/04 US. Cl. 28011.13 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE It is known that skiers actually obtain their best performances with skis geared to a particular type of snow. For this reason, ski manufacturers produce different types of skis, for example skis adapted for use on powdery snow, skies adapted to icy snow, etc. Unfortunately, the physical condition of a layer of snow varies generally at different points along a given ski slope according to the altitude and to the climatic conditions, which is a handicap for those participating in a ski race, their skis not enabling to obtain their best performances in the different parts of the slope.

The invention has for its object a ski of universal utility which does not have the above mentioned drawbacks.

The ski according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the outer covering of the sole of the ski is divided into different parts having different frictional characteristics relative to the snow. To obtain these results there will be selected different materials which differ as to the physical condition of the surface, such as by their coefficient of friction, by the hardness of the material, by their resistance to abrasion and generally by all characteristics which determine sliding of skis.

These different materials are well known to ski manufacturers and made by specialists able to give all information relating to the aptitude of the materials that slide on different types of snow.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the covering of the sole is longitudinally divided into two equal parts each one of which has a very different characteristic from that of the other material relative to its ability to slide. It is evident that it is possible to provide a different geometric division and a greater number of 3,520,546 Patented July 14, 1970 materials according to need. It can be advantageous to paint these different materials in different colours.

Two examples of the invention are given schematically in the accompanying drawing and given without limiting the breadth of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematically two soles of skis, each provided with a covering according to the invention positioned according to two modifications.

In these two examples there has been used two different materials designated respectively by reference characters 10 and 11 which have two different characteristics with respect to ability to slide on snow.

FIG. 1 shows a sole subdivided longitudinally into two equal parts one of which is covered by material 10 and the other by material 11. In the modification shown in FIG. 2, the length of the sole is subdivided into four segments of substantially equal lengths covered alternately with material 10 and material 11.

The covering parts are applied to the sole of the ski in a conventional manner well known to those skilled in the art and which does not form part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A ski for use under various surface conditions of snow, comprising an elongate ski body having a continu ous smooth running surface, said running surface being divided by the longitudinal center line of the ski into two adjacent equal areas each extending from said center line to the respective lateral edge of the ski body, each of said areas having different frictional surface characteristics from the other.

2. A ski for use under various snow conditions, comprising an elongate ski body having a continuous smooth running surface, said running surface being divided by transverse lines into a plurality of substantially equal adjacent areas arranged successively in the lengthwise direction of the ski, adjacent ones of said areas having different frictional surface characteristics.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,143,545 1/1939 Currier 280-11.13 2,264,535 12/1941 Klemm 280-1113 3,178,194 4/1965 Buchmuller 280-1 1.13

FOREIGN PATENTS 184,858 3/1956 Austria. 190,187 6/ 1937 Switzerland.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner 

